Aeroplane.



M. J. ZMUJDZINOWIGZ.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTEST w AT TYIS'.

M. J. ZMUJDZINOWIOZ.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911. 1,034,556. Patented Aug. 6, 1912,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. J. ZMUJDZINOWIOZ.

AEROPLANB.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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M. J. ZMUJDZINOWIGZ.

AEROPLANE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR.15, 1911.

1,034,556, Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHBET 4.

* "s'rs MICHAEL J. ZMUJ'DZINOWIOZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AEROIPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 19112.

a iA pplicat'i'on filed April 15, 1911. Serial No. 621,379.

To all whom it moiicoitoern:

. Be it' known that 1, MICHAEL J. ZMUJn-j zmowrcz, citizen of the United States; re-r siding at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, and the improvement comprises i an air craft of the monoplane type in which a set of lift propellers is provided in addition to a driving propeller, all substantially as hereinafter shown-and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view looking down upon the 1 top of the aeroplane as it appears when descending. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the machine as ita'ppears from below in making a turn. Fig. 3 is "a front perspective view, and Fig. 4 is a rear view in perspective. Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in perspective showing the front elevating rudder and rear elevatingtail tilted as in asfcending operations. Fig. 6 is a sectional view longitudinally ,ofthe machine on a central line through the car .body. Fig. 7

is ,an enlarged detail view of the controlling mechanism for the steering, elevatingand balancing members of the aeroplane.

. My concept involves a construction of aeroplane of high power and large supporting areas, the main plane 2 being relatively wide and deep and formed on curved lines both transversely and longitudinally of the machine. In contradistinction to the pres ent practice, planes 2 comprise a series of longitudinally curved ribs 3 which project on radial lines laterally at either side of body 4, the inner ends being firmly secured in fixed or separable manner within the said body to the inner frame 5 thereof (see Fig. 6). The supporting area of planes 2 is indicated by covering 6 which may be of any suitable material, and a. reinforcement is provided by cross ribs 7 inclosed by said covering and rigidly fixed to ribs 3 by suitable fastening devices 8 at each intersecting point. Ribs 3 are purposely uncovered for some distance at either. side of the car body 4, the object being to leave ample space for vertical draft in the operation of two lift propellers 9 and 10 which are mounted at the upper ends of Vertical shafts 11 arranged front and rear on a central line in car body j: 4 These lift propellers are preferably con;

.structed with four blades of peculiar spoonshaped pattern according to my own invention. Now returning to main planes 2, the ribs 3 thereof are of spring material adapt-v ing them to be bent on curved lines when stay wires 12 are" used as shown between body 4 and planes 2. A further feature of novelty is to be found in main planes 2 wherein the outerrear corner portion 14 is deflected or bent downwardly in respect to the inner rear corner of each plane, and this formation of the planes is fixed and permanent and alike in both, and the advanta e to be derived therefrom is as follows The aeroplane having a relatively large car'body 4 naturally displaces a la r e body of air in its forward flight and in t is connection it must be remembered that my plan contemplates a machine of great size and large balancing tail 15 and also beneath a rotatable elevating tail 16. Longitudinal stability is also maintained by a front elevating rudder 17 which is rotatably supported on a transverse shaft 18 mounted within or upon the front end of car body 4. Balancing tail 15 comprises a silk or other covering stretched between the longitudinal frame ribs 19 which project rearwardly of the main planes on curved lines and are crossed centrally far to the .rear of carbody 4,the extension 20 of ribs 19 continuing on diverging lines to provide pivot bearings 21 for elevating tail 16. This rotatable tail is of triangular formation, the apex of which 00- cupies the space between extensions 20 and the base line of the triangle being preferably curved. A curved brace rib 22 extends from the bottom of car body 4 rearwardly to the intersection of frame ribs 19 and to which it is attached. A horizontal shaft 23 mounted centrally within the rear portion of car body 4 and extending rearwardly thereof carries and operates a driving ropeller 24 which is free to rotate withint e confines marked oroutlined by ribs 19 and brace 22. This locates propeller 24 between the body and tail 1 5 in the line of concentration of the air by wing tips 14 hereinbefore described, thereby further facilitating forward driving operations. Shaft 23 is substantially in the same plane as tail 15 although slightly below the same so that the air which is driven rearwardly will flow partly over the top of the tail to assist in keeping the aeroplane on a horizontal keel. The object in making the rear elevating tail 16 of V form is to make a strong and durable construction and provide the requisite balancing area rearwardly of its transverse rotatable axis, the apex end being utilized as a lever and having posts 25 fixed thereon whcrewith wires or cable connections 26 and 27 are attached and which lead forwardly into the car body at opposite sides thereof. A number of sheaves 28 are located at differentpoints on car body 4 and its rigging to guide and support wires 26 and 27, and control of tail 16 is had by pulley 29 on which said wires are reversely wound, said pulley being secured on hollow shaft 30 having hand wheel 31 within convenient reach of the pilot. This controlling device is located within the front end of car body 4 and when tail 16 is operated, simultaneous operation of front elevating rudder 17 also occurs; but tail l6 and rudder 17 are caused to always assume reverse inclinations, their angles or pitch however being equal. Rudder 17 is operated by a worm gear 32 on shaft 30 meshing with sector gear 33 forming part of the rudder support 34 which also comprises vertical arms 35 within the bent ends of which 'zontal rudder 17, and the means for operating steering rudder 36 consist of a pair of wires or cables attached to a central point at the outer edge of steering rudder 36 and leading into thefront end of the car where both wires are wound reversely on a reel 39 secured to shaft 40 which is sleeved to rotate independently within hollow shaft 30, a separate hand wheel 41 being provided therefor above hand wheel 31 and in close relation thereto for convenient manipulation by the pilot. Turning movements of the aeroplane and maintenance of lateral stability thereof in flight also require a co-j oint movement of the steering rudder with suitable balancing members adapted to give a greater angle of incidence on one side of the machine than the other and in my machine these balancing members comprise separate wings 42 hinged upon the under side of main planes 2 at the front outer end portion thereof and control of sand balancing members 42 to warp or tilt them to different angles and reco-jointly rotatable with reel 39 controlling steering rudder 36, see Fig. 7. However, as

the relative movement of balancing member a 42 is less than rudder 36 pulley 45 is made correspondingly smaller than reel 39. The

balancing planes or members 42 extend beyond either side of the main planes 2 a short distance to promote better control of the aeroplane in turning and banking and in maintaining a stable equilibrium at all times.

Car body 4 is preferably constructed of a light frame work covered by aluminum sheets and is curved or pointed at its ends and also more or less curved in cross section; but the bottom 46 is substantially flat transversely to provide a shallow displacement when permitted to rest upon water, whereby upward flight therefrom will be facilitated. In this operation, lift propellers 9 and 10, respectively, may be utilized to great advantage, said propellers being rotatably drivenindependently of propeller 24 to lift body-4 out of the water before a forward flight is attempted. Obviously the same advantage in initially ascending is to be had on land. Lift propellers 9 and 10 also safeguard landing operations and also lateral and longitudinal stability of the aeroplane in flight, and in the event of the failure of forward drive .to maintain the machine in the air, the lift propellers may alone be relied upon for safe descent. A single engine 47 of ample horse power is employed to rotate both lift propellers simultaneously and preferably at the same speed by means of longitudinal shaft 48 having bevel gears 49 at its opposite ends which mesh with like gears on vertical propeller shaft 11. Front shaft llfor the propeller 9 is longer than the, rear shaft 11 to permit front propeller 9 to rotate on a higher horizontal plane than rear propeller 10. Rear propeller 24 is preferably driven by a double set of motors four wheels 52 secured at the free ends thereof, thereby making an exceedingly light and elastic rolling support for the aeroplane when on the ground.

If desired the machine may be built of separable parts, particularly the main planes and tail frame and thereby facilitate shipment.

Wheels 52 are provided with. pneumatic tires, which When inflated, materially assist to buoy'the aeroplane when in the water, said tires being of light weight and extra large to obtain these results.

The weight of the machine being principally in body ,4, and With the engines, fuel tanks and carrying accommodations being on the bottom and relatively very low as comparedwith the main planes and other balancing members, it Will at once be observed that danger of capsizing is greatly minimized. The curvature laterally of planes 2 also materially contribute to prevent excessive tilting or upsetting of the aeroplane.

What I claim is: V

1. In an aeroplane, a car body and main planes therefor having a set of'radially extending-ribs transversely at eitherside of said body and connected by longitudinal frame ribs extending rearwardly and crossed 011 diverging lines, and an elevating tail pivotally supported between the diverging extensions of said frame ribs.

In an aeroplane, a car body having a set of main planes provided with longitudinal frame ribs converging rearwardly and crossed and providing diverging extensions, a triangular-shaped elevating rudder pivotally mounted between said diverging extensions, .and a covering for said frame ribs at their converging diverging portions to provide a fixed tail. 0

8. In, an aeroplane, a car'body and a main plane at either side thereof comprising frame ribs extending laterally on radial lines and curved in a vertical plane and having longitudinally disposed frame ribs spaced apart from the body and-uncovered and extending rearwardly on converging and diverging lines, a fixed tail covering for said. frame ribs at the rear apart from said body, a triangular elevating rudder pivotally mounted between the diverging portions of said frame ribs, posts on the apex end of said rudder, and operat-. ing connections leading to said posts.

'4. In an aeroplane, a car body having a set of lift propellers centrally above the same and a driving propeller at the rear thereof, a set of main planes extending at either side of said body and uncovered next to said body beneath said lift propellers, a tail frame comprising longitudinal ribs spaced apart from said body and extending rearwardly thereof at either side of said driving propeller on ing lines, and a triangular-shaped elevating rudder pivotally mounted with. its apex end between said diverging portions of said converging and diverglongitudinal ribs, in combination with a steering rudder and a balancing rudder at the front end of said body.

'5. In an aeroplane, a car body having main planes, a set of lift propellers, a rear driving propeller, a fixed tail at the rear of and in axial line with said driving propeller, a triangular elevating rudder pivotally mounted at the rear of said fixed tail, a rotatable elevating rudder at the front of said body having a steering rudder rota- .tably bers secured to said maln planes.

6. In an aeroplane, a car body and mainplanes having aseries of curved ribs extending transversely at either side thereof on radial lines and a covering for the outer portion of said ribs to provide flying planes, said planes having downwardly deflected outer rear corners, in combination with a propeller relatively between said planes at their rear inthe area affected by said deflected rear corners. I

7. In an aeroplane, a car body-and a frame therein, radial spring ribs for the main planes projecting through said body and engaged with the said frame, guy wires between said ribs and body to spring and hold said ribs on curved lines, cross ribs connecting said radial ribs and curved downwardly at their ends, a covering for said ribs, and means to fasten said covering to said ribs at their crossing and meeting angles.

;8. In an aeroplane, a car body and mam planes at the sides thereof, a plurality of lift propellers above said body intermediate said main planes, a driving propeller at the rear of said body, balancing members comprising small hinged planes beneath said main planes, a pivoted rear elevating tail behind said propeller, a rotatable elevating rudder at the front of said body, a steering rudder rotatably mounted on' sald front elevating rudder and means to control said balancing members comprising a tubue lar shaft having worm-gear connections with said elevating rudder and provided with a reel and flexible connections leading therefrom to said pivoted tail, and a separate rotatable shaft sleeved within said tubular shaft and having a pair of reels of different diameters afiixed thereto and separate flexible connections leading therefrom mounted thereon, and balancing memto said steering rudder and said hinged balancing planes, respectively. In testimony whereof I'aflix, my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

E; M. FISHER, R. B. MOSER. 

